Changes to Immigration New Zealand (INZ) policy have restricted access to partner and dependent child visas for some Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) holders. These settings are primarily wage-driven, and their application depends on the principal applicant’s pay rate, role, and occupation requirements.
Clients should be advised that family visa eligibility is not automatic and must be assessed on a case-by-case basis against current INZ instructions at the time of application.
Scope of the Policy Changes
The restrictions apply to certain AEWV holders who do not meet Immigration New Zealand’s income thresholds or role eligibility requirements for family support.
Key points to note:
- Pay is the primary determinant, not occupation title alone.
- Many affected roles fall within ANZSCO skill levels 4 and 5, as they are no longer eligible to support partners and children for visas.
- Some ANZSCO Level 4 roles may still support family members where:
- the required income thresholds are met, and/or
- the role appears on the Green List and all role-specific requirements are satisfied.
- ANZSCO skill levels 1–3 are not exempt; applicants must still meet:
- a minimum hourly pay rate to support a partner, and
- a separate, higher income threshold to support dependent children.
- The policy generally applies to new AEWV applications and new family visa applications.
- Where partners or children already hold valid visas, they are normally permitted to remain until visa expiry, subject to compliance with visa conditions.
Partner Visa Implications
Partners of AEWV holders may be eligible for an open Partner of a Worker Work Visa only where the principal applicant:
- holds a valid AEWV, and
- is employed in a role that meets the current hourly pay threshold set by INZ for partner support, and
- satisfies all other applicable visa conditions.
This may include roles at ANZSCO skill levels 1–3 depending on pay and role eligibility.
Where these criteria are not met, partners must qualify for a visa in their own right, such as:
- an AEWV based on their own employment,
- a student visa, or
- a general visitor visa.
Dependent Children – Education and Visa Considerations
To support dependent children, the AEWV holder must meet a separate income threshold, which is higher than that required for partner support.
Where this income threshold is not met:
- Dependent children may not be eligible for domestic student status.
- Children may apply for an international fee-paying student visa, subject to meeting student visa requirements.
Visitor Visa Options for Family Members
Partners and children may still apply for visitor visas, provided they meet standard visitor requirements, including:
- genuine temporary stay intentions,
- sufficient funds and onward travel arrangements, and
- compliance with visa conditions (including no work and limited study).
INZ may assess such applications carefully where there is an apparent intention for long-term residence without an appropriate visa pathway.
Circumstances Where Family Support May Still Be Available
Family visa support may be available where the AEWV holder:
- meets the current hourly wage requirement for partner sponsorship, and
- meets the income threshold for dependent children, and
- is employed in a higher-skilled role (ANZSCO Levels 1–3)
- holds employment in a Green List occupation, provided all role-specific requirements, including pay, are satisfied.
Key Points
- Check current wage and income thresholds at the time of application, as these are subject to change.
- Assess each family member’s eligibility independently.
- Ensure supporting documentation are clearly recorded.
- Understand the temporary nature of some visa options and the absence of progression to residence.
Key Message
Eligibility to support partners and dependent children under the AEWV framework is conditional, pay-dependent, and subject to policy change.
You should not make relocation, employment, or education commitments without a full individual assessment by a Licensed Immigration Adviser.
